Academy teaches leadership skills to students

Saturday

Jun 21, 2008 at 12:01 AMJun 21, 2008 at 6:49 AM

By DENEESHA EDWARDS The Dispatch

For the first time since the program began in 1992, students from the Bernard H. Thomas Leadership Academy took part in a video conference with students in a similar program in Davie County."It's fun to talk to other people from a different county," said Hallie McCarn.Hallie, a rising sixth-grader at Tyro Middle School, watched a group of students live from the Davie County Leadership Academy on Friday morning.The students took turns asking each other questions and showing some activities they completed through the week."I had fun this week," Hallie said. "I met a lot of people."Hallie was one of nearly 100 students who attended the 16th Annual Bernard H. Thomas Leadership Academy, a weeklong camp for elementary and middle-school students in Davidson County Schools, said Joyce Suggs, coordinator for the academy."It's a wonderful opportunity," Suggs said of the leadership training program.For Hallie, to sum up the week in one word was impossible; she said she had to use two - fun and helping."It was fun because we did a lot of neat activities," she said. "We helped our community by doing a little bit of community service."During the week students participated in activities that emphasize team-building, decision-making, goal-setting and conflict resolution. For example, they completed several workshops in the classroom, completed a ropes course in the woods at the Baptist Children's Home in Thomasville, visited nursing homes and participated in a national fundraiser, Alex's Lemonade Stand, which raises money for pediatric cancer research.

Cole Beeker, a rising fifth-grader at Welcome Elementary, said he had a wonderful time at the academy."I learned a lot of new things and how to lead people," he said. "The things they teach you really work."Cole said he really enjoyed taking a tour of Davidson County Community College, where the students were based during the program. He described the college as "big." His favorite thing about the academy was meeting other students and teachers from different schools. Teachers served as facilitators for the activities."I met new friends. The teachers are really nice," he said.The academy is sponsored by the Davidson County Education Foundation, a nonprofit volunteer organization that's dedicated to the enrichment of educational opportunities in Davidson County. For the first time, Old Dominion Freight Line partnered with DCEF to help sponsor the camp.Laura Koonts, DCEF administrative director, said it's exciting to see the students come in on Monday and be quiet and a little shy and then, by Friday, they're laughing and hugging each other.She also said the students are encouraged to take back everything they learned from the academy to school."It's an honor for the kids," she said. "Hopefully, we're making some leaders. It's a fun week for them."At the closing ceremony Friday all students received a certificate for their participation.Sarah England, a rising fourth-grader at Friendship Elementary, said she liked how the teachers encouraged the students to do better."I really liked it because it was fun," she said. "We learned the qualities of a good leader, how to use good teamwork and how to encourage others."Deneesha Edwards can be reached at 249-3981, ext. 213, or at deneesha.edwards@the-dispatch.com.